Why do so many people talk so softly?

I've worn hearing aides all of my life. I find it annoying when people mumble small talk as they are writing, on their smart phone or whatever. So I can't read their lips on top of them talking softly. Then they look up when they are done mumbling, looking for feedback about whatever they were mumbling about. I just nod and smile hiding my irritation because people generally don't like to repeat themselves. It gets to me because I get left out on a regular basis. I miss jokes, news, little snippets of information here and there. If I meet a guy and there's mutual interest, but I keep having to ask him to speak up...forget it we'll never work.